Cooking machine



New. 19, 94G. H. M. HUSK cooxnze MACHINE Filed March 10, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 19, 1940. 1 1, M. HUSK COOKING MACHINE Filed March1o, 1938 2 sheefs-shee1 2' I1? vwn Haney M Husn by Y f Patented-Nov. 19,1940 UNITED slzfrlas .PATENT oFFlcls4 Application March 1o, 193s, serialmi. 195,121

11 Claims.

This invention relates primarily to machines for cooking or fryingvarious materials, 'usually of an edible' nature, such as nut meats,potato chips, etc., in oil `or similar cooking liquid, the 5' inventionrelating more particularly to cooking machines which are semi-automaticto the extent that the product to be cooked or treated is supplied toand removed from the machine manually but wherein the operation of themachine is substantially otherwise automatic.

In Reissue Patent No. 20,570 is disclosed a fully automatic cookingmachine more particularly Aadapted for the cooking of nut meats. thismachine employingv a hopper and mechanism for automatically removing thecooked product from the cooking medium and delivering measuredquantities of the uncooked product from the hopper to the cooking mediumfollowing the removal of the cooked product, the machine operatingautomatically and continuously. The primary object of my invention is toproduce a relatively simple and lessexpensive semi-automaticcookingmachine which is constructed to 4operate and cook in a mannersimilar to this fully automatic 28 machine.

My invention is concerned more particularly with a home or restaurantcooker into which may be placediand cooked various edibles and whichwill automatically remove the edibles from the cooking medium when thecooking is completed. The machine includes a container for the cookingliquid. a foraminous basket 'or other `suitable holder for the productto be cooked and an electric heating unit for the cooking liquid, theseelements preferably being relatively detachable whereby they 4.can beconveniently washed and cleansed independently. The inventionfurthermore'employs an electric motor and novel connections and controlsof a relatively simple nature 40 for lifting and holding the basket andthe cooked product from the cooking liquid when the cooking iscompleted, the basket also preferably being provided with a handle b'ywhich the basket and the product may be carried to any desirablelocation.

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent fromthe following described embodiment of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and wherein:

Fig. lv is a front elevation of a cooking machine embodying myinvention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of F18. 5,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view taken on line 8-8 -88 of Fig. 1,

'- construction. l

(c1. ss-'n' Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the basket latched'in theraised position,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the machine, a portion thereof being brokenaway, v

Fig. 6 is a disassembled view of the container, heater and basket,

Fig. 'Tis a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 8 is a diagram of the electrical connections.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, view of a modied cam Fig. 10 is a fragmentary'view showing a variable resistor in the motor circuit.

Referring more specifically to the drawings by reference characters, I0indicates a base or support carrying and including rear and frontrelatively spaced uprights II and I2. A container Il for the cookingliquid is supported on and between these. uprights by means of lugs I5engaging in notches I6. Resting in a notch I8 in one wall of thecontainer is an electric heating element including a resistance coil 20within a closed metal tube 2I, the two ends of the tube being carriedwithin a connecting plug 22 and the intermediate portion 28 of the tubebeing adapted to rest on or adjacent to the bottom of the container. Aforaminous basket 2l is `provided for carrying the'product to be cooked,the

basket lfpreferably being mounted for pivotal movement on and about arod 25. secured at its ends to' the two uprights Il and I2 and extendingalongone top edge of the container. 'I'his pivotal connection to the rodcomprises two elements 28 carried by the basket and slotted at theirfree ends' to receive the rod, two hooks 28 being pivoted to theelements for securing the basket to the rod. Thus when Athe hooks 28 areengaged with the rod the basket can only pivot about the rod and whenthe hooks are disengaged from the rod the basket is freely removabletherefrom..

The hooks 28 permit the basket tobe removed from the container I4 andthe basket is preferably provided with a handle 80 by which the basketand its contents can be carried free of 'the machine'to any location.The handle is attached to thevlong leg of a U-shaped strap 82 having itsshort leg alxed tov the U-end of a second strap 84. This strap 84 has ashort inner leg affixed t'o the front end'wall of the basket and arelatively long and downwardly extending outer leg carrying a roller 85which cooperates with a basket lifting cam 86 as hereinafter described.

Also mounted on the base I0 is an electric motor'88 having a worm andwormwheel connection n at 88 with a shaft I0. The shaft 40` carries aworm 42 in mesh with a wormwheel 43 fixed to a 1 shaft 44. This shaft 44is carried in a bracket 45 secured to the upright I2 and serving also tosupport the worm'42. The cam 36 and an adjacent cam 46 are carried onthe shaft 44.

The motor 38 and the heating coil 20 receive electric current from amain line 48 and under the control of a main switch 50, a disengageable46 is adapted to engage and move lthe bar 54 to n `the broken lineposition, all as hereinafter described.

A'tube 58 extends horizontally through the container I4 adjacent to its4bottom and has its ends sealed to the opposite side walls of thecontainer thereby supportingthe tube, one end of the tube being open tothe outside. A thermostat in the form of an expansible tube 60 isinserted into the tube 58 and projects outwardly of its open end, thetube 60 closely fitting the tube 58 whereby to receive heat directlytherefrom. Mounted on the outwardly projecting` end of the tube 60 is ablock 63 and secured to the block by a screw 6I is a casing 62 enclosingthe block.

Arrod 64 extends freely through the tube 60 and Vhas its inner endconnected to the inner end of this tube as by a pin 65. The outer end ofthe rod is connected to the bottom end of a lever 66 pivoted at 68 tothe block 63. The main switch mechanism A is housed within the casing62, this mechanism including a base 10 carried by the lever 66andprovided with a cover 1I.. The base 10 is made of insulation materialand switch lelements 12 and `13 are supported onterminals carried on thebase, the element 'I3 being of spring material and normally in contactwith the element 12. Wires 14 and 15 are connected to the saidterminals.

Mountedwithin and projecting outwardly from the cover 1I is a pin 16having a head limiting outwardmovement of the pin. The inner end of thepin is arranged to'- engage theswitch element 13. An adjustable stop I1having an adu justing head 18 on its 'outer end is extended through andthreaded into the casing 62,' the inner end of the stop being arrangedto be`v engaged by. the pin 16 uplonpivotal movement of the switch box1li-1I l toward the stop. The

construction and varrangement is such that whenthe tube66 expands, itcauses the rod 64 to be pulled to the left (Figi. 8) thereby swingingthe ment 13 is preferably of the quick acting typeA shown and describedin Patent No. 1,960,020.

It will be apparent that heat from the liquid within the container I4 isconducted to the expansible tube 60 directly from the tube 58. Expansionof the tube 60' is transmitted to the lever 66.and the leverageresultingfrom the location of 'the pivot 68y is such that any slight expansion'of contact 12.

the tube 60 causes considerable movement of the I switch box and its pin16, and pressure of the pin against the stop causes the switch element13 quickly to snap away from contact with the element 12 thereby openingthe heating circuit through the switch A. The circuit remains open untilcooling and contracting of -the tube 60 causes the switch box to returnand as the pin Y leaves the stop4 'I1 the switch element 'I3 quicklysnaps back into contact with the element 12. An index may be providedfor cooperating withthe adjustable head 18 whereby the temperature atwhich the switch may be opened may be varied.

In Fig. 1\the basket is shown in broken lines in position raised fromthe cooking liquid. A latch 80- pivoted to 'the handle at 82 extendsdownwardly and is adapted to engage over the top edge of the front wallof the container and hold the basket in this raised position. A spring84 normally pivots the latch in the latching direction and the latch maybe disengaged by pressing a finger release 86 carried by the latch andlocate'.l

beneath the handle grip 30. l

The operation of the machine may bevbriefiy described as follows:l Thevcooking'liquid is rst placed in the container I4 and the main switch 50is closed, the switches A and B being then in the positions shown inFigs. 7 and 8; In such position the switch A shorts the circuit throughthe motor and the heating coil 20 is in closed circuit with the line 48through the switch A. As the liquid becomes heated, the tube 60 expandsand vwhen the temperature predetermined by the setting of the stop 11 isreached, the tube has moved the switch box 10-1I on its pivot 68'sufficiently to disengage the contact I3 fromV the The heating circuitthrough the switch A is thereby opened as is also the short circuitingof the motor. The motor thereupon operates to move the parts-in thedirection of the arrow from the position illustrated in Fig. 1 to aposition wherein the cam 46 engages the bar 54 and moves it to thebroken line position of Fig. 8. -Such movement opens the motor circuitand the parts'lthereupon stop withy the cam holding this switchin thesaid broken line'position.

The cooking liquid is'now at cooking temperal ture and theoperator"places the material to be cooked into the basket and lowers the basketinto sic the liquid to a position wherein the basket is supported bycontact of the roller at with thel cam 36,-the latch 80 being releasedby' pressingturns the switch A to closed position. The heat ing coil 20and the motor circuit are-'both thereupon placed' in circuit with theline 48 and the motor operates in the direction of the arrow imtil thecam 46 leaves the bar 54 whereupon the spring v- 56 returns the bar totheull line position of Fig. 8. This movement of the bar opens the motorcircuit whereupon the parts stop in the position of Fig. 1. The heatingcoil 20 continues to provide heat to the liquid which continues to cook'the material during the time' period neces- Abox 1li-1I into contactwith the stop 11 and .separating the switch element 13 .from the elelaaaasic ,ment 12. This opening of the switch A breaks the shortcircuiting of the motor whereupon the motor operatesthe parts from theposition of Fig. 1 to said position wherein the cam 48 holds the switchbar '54 in its broken line position.

During the'flrst portion of this movement the cam 36 raises the basketfrom the liquid to the position of Fig. 4 wherein the latch 80 engagesover the top edge of the container Il and holds the basket in its raisedposition. The parts remain in this position with all circuits open untilthe cooking liquid is again cooled down to a point permitting the'switch A to close.

While it is believed that, inthe cooking of most products, the basketand its contents should be raised from the cooking liquid immediatelywhen the liquid reaches the predetermined tempera ture, as hereinbeforedescribed, it may in some cases be desirable to leave the' product. inthe hot liquid for a predetermined period of time after the liquid hasbeen brought to its maximum temperature and heating by the heating' unithas been interrupted. For example, such operation may be desirable whencooking a product which requires a heating period necessitating thesetting of the thermostat to a relatively high temperature in order tofully cook the product. In such case, the product may be convenientlyand economically cooked by setting the thermostat fora temperaturesomewhat lower than said high temperature and permitting the producttoremain in the hot liquid for a predetermined period of time after theliquid has reached its maximum temperature. My cooking machine describedherein is adapted conveniently to. be modified electrically and/ormechanically for this purpose, as -by theemployment of a resistor in themotor circuit orby use of reduced gearing or other mechanical change inthe driving connections,

thereby combining a time control with a thermostatic control for thepurpose stated, the time control being adapted to raise the basket fromthe cooking liquid a predetermined period of time after the thennostaticcontrol has cut off the heating of the liquid at a predeterminedmaximumtemperature.

In Figs.` 9 and 10, I have respectively "illustrated mechanical andelectrical means for delaying the raising of the basket from the cookingliquid after the liquid has been brought to its maximum temperature andthe heating has been interrupted. In Fig. 9, a cam 90 has beensubstituted for the cam 36 on the shaft M, the contour of this Acamincluding'a substantially concentric portion 92 and a quick actingportion 94 for cooperating with the roller 35. 'Ihe result is that theshaft has a considerable rotation from the position of Fig. 9 before iteffects raising of the basket and it then raises the basket much morerapidly than does the cam 38.. The shaft 44 is rotated at a relativelyslow speed from the motor 38 through the reduction gearing "-43 and thisspeed may be further reduced through manipulation of the variableresistor 98 in the motor circuit. It will be apparent that themechanical L and electrical means may'be used either inde-14 pendentlyor in combination to effect thel desired speed of shaft 44 and leave thebasket and its contents in the hot cooking liquid for a desiredpredetermined period after the heating operationhas been interrupted. i

Having thus described my invention, what I, claimv as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a cooking machine, a container for a outwardly of the container,an arm rigid with cooking liquid, a foraminous basket within thecontainer, power driven means outside the container for raising thebasket from the container, and a latch for holding the basket in itsraised position. y

2. In a cooking machine.- a container for a cooking liquid, a foraminousbasket within the container,means supporting the basket relative to thecontainer for movement upwardly and l0 the basket and extendingoutwartny of the container, a power driven cam for engaging the arm andraising the basket lfrom the container, and a handle carried by (thebasket, the said means being detachable thereby permitting the basket tobe lifted by its handle from ithe container. l

3. In a cooking machine, a container for a` cooking liquid, a foraminousbasket within the container, means supporting the basket relative to thecontainer for movement upwardly and outwardly of the container, powerdriven means for raising the basket from the container, a latchl forholding the basket in its raised position, and a handle carried by thebasket, the first named means permitting the basket to be lifted by itshandle from the container.

4. In a cooking machine, a container for a cooking liquid, a foraminousbasket within the container, powerv driven means for raising the 30 lalatch for holding the basket in its raised position, and a handlecarried by the basket, the rst named means being detachable thereby'permitting the basket to be `lifted by its handle from the container. y

6. In a cockingmachine, a container for a cooking liquid, -a foraminousbasket within the container, an electric motor, a shaft driven by themotor, means driven by thev shaft for raising the basket from thecontainer, la latch for holding the basket in its raised position, anormally closed switch in the motor circuit, and a cam on the shaft foropening the switch after the said means has raised the basket. 55

7. In a cooking machine, a container for 'a cooking liquid, a foraminousbasket within the container, an arm rigid with the basket and ex-`'tending outwardly over the top edge of the lcontainer and downwardlyoutside of and adjacent to onewall of the container, a shaft adjacent tovthe lower end of the arm. an electric motor for luid within thecontainer, an electric motor, basket lifting means drivenV by the motorand. in- 15 cluding 'an element extending upwardly Aext'erix'n'- vlyalong a side wall of the container and over the top of said wallandhaving connection with the basket for raising the basket to an elevatedposition within the container when the liquid reaches a predeterminedtemperature, and a releasable,

l latch for holding the basket in its raised position.

9. In a cooking machine, a container for a cooking liquid, a foraminousbasket within the container, an arm rigid with the basket and extendingoutwardly over the top edge of the container and downwardly outside thecontainer, a

`power driven cam adjacent to the container and below the top edgethereof cooperating with the downwardly extending extremity of the armfor raising the basket from the container, means supporting the basketrelative to the container for movement to and from cooking liquidinv-the container and permitting the basket to be liftedfreely from thecontainer by the handle and carried from the container and machine,means including a motor cooperating with the rst-named the container,and means for causing the motor automatically thus to operate after apredeterliquid. f f

11. In a cooking machine, a container for a cooking liquid, a foraminousbasket within the container, a carrying handle carried by the basmeansfor lifting the basket from the liquid in mined cooking of a lproduct inthe basket and p ket and projecting laterally outward therefrom,

a' supporting element rigid with the basket, means cooperating with theelement for supporting the basket inthe container and lifting it fromthe container, and means' for causing the iirstnamed means automaticallythus to lift the basket after a predetermined cooking of a product inthe basket and liquid, the `first-named means and element cooperating topermit the basket to be lifted freely from the container .by the handleand carried from the container and machine.

HARRY M. HUSK.

